PHP...CHPTS 1 & 2 Active Reading

CHAPTER 1

Summary

The book begins as a flashback, with Colonel Aureliano Buendía thinking about the years after the city of Macondo was formed, when a band of gypsies brought new science to the town. José Arcadia Buendía, the founder of the town, is intrigued with these magical ideas. Using supplies given to him by Melquíades, the leader of the gypsies, he begins to study science deeply. Eventually, with Melquíades’s help, José Arcadio Buendía begins to explore alchemy, the “science” of making gold out of other metals. He becomes obsessed with it and ends up in solitude. But José Arcadio Buendía also is the leader who oversaw the building of the village of Macondo.

In his studies José Arcadio Buendía’s passion shifts to a need to establish contact with civilization. He leads an expedition to the north. He then decides that Macondo is water locked and inaccessible to the rest f the world. When he plans to move Macondo to another, more reasonable location, his wife stops him because she doesn’t want. He finally pays attention to his kids now: José Arcadio, who has inherited his father’s great strength, and, who seems, even as a child, enigmatic and withdrawn. When the gypsies return, they bring word that Melquíades is dead. Even though he is sad, Jose Arcadio Buendia does not lose his interst in the modern marvels and believes that this "ice" is the greatest invention ever.

Characters

Aureliano Buendía – He is about to get shot by the firing squad he thinks about the founding of Macondo and all that.

Melquíades - The leader of the gypsies, man of mystery

José Arcadio Buendía – Founded Macondo and is very adventurous but stubborn

Quotes

“Things have a life of their own”

“It’s the smell of the devil”

Theme

Discovery & Obsession

Through this chapter, Jose Arcadio Buendia, is obsessed with anything and everything he touches. From science to alchemy to discovery to his family.

Magical Elements

In this chapter the gypsies pose the element of magic and mysticism with their new “inventions” and discoveries or science which has Buenida in amazement.


CHAPTER 2

Summary

At this point the book goes even further back to tell the story of Jose and Ursula. They are born in a small village; they are the relatives of those who survived the assault on Riohacha. Úrsula is afraid to have sex because children born of incest usually are wrong genetically. Even as time moves Ursula still continues to refuse to have sex in her marriage. When Prudencio Aguilar hints at Buendía being impotent, Buendía kills him. Haunted by guilt and the ghost of the man he killed, José Arcadio Buendía decides to run away. After many months of wandering, they establish the village of Macondo.

After witnessing the ice of the gypsies, José Arcadio Buendía remembers his dream of Macondo as a city built with mirror-walls, which he believes to mean ice. He becomes obsessed with studying and learning again, this time with his son Aureliano. Meanwhile, the older son, José Arcadio, still a teenager, is seduced by a local woman, Pilar Ternera, who is attracted to him because of the bigness of his man thing. Eventually she gets pregnant. Before their child can be born, he meets a young gypsy girl and falls madly in love with her. When the gypsies left Jose Arcadia left with them. Heartbroken at the loss of her oldest son, Ursula tries to -follow the gypsies to get her son back but she ends up leaving her newborn Amaranta. Five months later, she returns with knowledge of a path to civilization.

Characters

Ursula Iguaran – She is loving and down to earth and is the stability in her family, her love is shown when she goes looking for Jose Arcadia

Jose Arcadia – He is big like his father and stubborn as well. He is known for is big thang thang but running away too.

José Arcadio Buendía – Again he gets wrapped up in his studies and goes into solitary state this time he is accompanied by his son Aureliano.

Quotes

“Look at what people are going around saying”

“If you bears iguanas, we’ll raise iguanas> But there’ll be no more killings in this town because of you”

Theme

Family

Family plays a big role in this chapter. Even in the flash back or Ursula and J.A.B. we see that they are cousins. We see J.A.B close himself off from his family again and Jose Arcadia running away from his. Ursula chases after her oldest son but leaves her newborn.

Magical Elements

Now we see discovery and ignorance as magic. The discovery or the realization of ice is brought to Jose Arcadia Buendia’s attention by the gypsies. In his dream he thinks the mirror walls are made of ice. Ignorance plays into magic because in the first chapter Jose Arcadia Buendia goes on an expedition to find society and fails but, his wife finds it on a casual simple two-day journey.